IRELAND A have included six players with Test experience in the squad for their upcoming clash with England at Ashton Gate (kick-off 1pm) next Sunday.
Captain Max Deegan, Fineen Wycherley, Oli Jager, Tom O’Toole, Harry Byrne and Shane Daly have all been selected for the 29-man panel’s trip to Bristol.
Head Coach Mike Prendergast has also named 12 players who were part of the Emerging Ireland Tour to South Africa last September.
Joining Prendergast on the staff are Forwards Coach Jimmy Duffy, Defence Coach Sean O’Brien, Backs/Assistant Attack Coach Mark Sexton and Scrum/Breakdown Coach Colm Tucker.
Tickets are available to buy here and the game will be streamed live for free on RugbyPass TV.
Ireland ‘A’ Squad:
(Club/Province/Test caps)
Forwards (16):
Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht)
Diarmuid Barron (Garryowen/Munster)
James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Max Deegan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(captain)(2)
Brian Gleeson (Garryowen FC/Munster)
Oli Jager (Munster)(1)
Sean Jansen (Connacht)
Alex Kendellen (UCC RFC/Munster)
Paddy McCarthy (Dublin University FC/Leinster)
Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)
Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(16)
Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
Alex Soroka (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
Fineen Wycherley (Young Munster/Munster)(1)
Backs (13):
Shayne Bolton (Connacht)
Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster)(4)
Hugh Cooney (Clontarf/Leinster)
Shane Daly (Cork Constitution/Munster)(2)
Cathal Forde (Corinthians/Connacht)
Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
Fintan Gunne (Terenure College RFC/Leinster)
Ben Murphy (Clontarf/Connacht)
Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)
Tommy O’Brien (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster)
Jude Postlethwaite (City of Armagh RFC/Ulster)
Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
I voted yes. He is the “in-form” Irish striker in the Premiership this season. Fair enough, Best has scored a few goals but his all round play isn’t as good as Walters. The Stoke man offers pace, strength, work rate and can bang in a goal or two.
Would it be mental to put McCarthy or Fahey in behind Keane?
Yip, it would. We need a physical presence up front. Jon Walters is the man.
What about Skokes? Maybe manager should be looking at what’s best for team and putting personal differences behind him…
yes i agree stokes is the manor best
Stokes?? Are you for real??
I feel it would be foolish to play an extra man in midfield because the team is used to playing together in a 442. Probably not a good idea to go messing about with players and tactics. If keane was up front on his own he would forget to stay on the central defenders toes and be running all over the place. We need the physical presence of Walters in the frontline battle.
Walters deserves a shot. He was impressive during his cameo versus Armenia. Dont forget the cat is no in the bag!
No, he should stick to the journalism !!
:)
I would be very happy if Walters starts. He is a prescene but much more than a “big man” up front. Has a good first touch and a decent range of passing. We have a surprisingly decent range of options up front at the moment with Keane, Doyle, Long, Walters, Cox and Best. If Conor Sammon starts to get a bit more playing time at Wigan he could sharpen up too
Eh Ch’yeah!
yes walters should start up front with robbie keane,we have to stay with a 4 4 2 formation and go for it
Personally I would choose Walters up front with Best. Keane is rusty and his best days are behind him! Either way a One nil to us will set us up nicely.
Scored a great goal for Galaxy last week? I think Doyle being sent off v Armenia showed us the potential of Walters up front on his own..
James McCarthy – good player, should be starting every game
Perry groves !!!